Batmanuchiha - Thank you

Incognito12 - This closeness with Xanatos and the ability to talk to him about anything is going to become key.

"Mom!"

It wasn't the startled cry that woke Xanatos from an uneasy sleep, but the gut-wrenching fear that invaded his mind along the still unfamiliar bond he shared with his new apprentice. Conditioned by years of working undercover, he was instantly alert and on his feet. He rushed through the common room of his new quarters, making his way to where the boy was sleeping. The door frame seemed to jump out and grab him, his toe painfully meeting the unforgiving wall. He let loose a string of profanity that would have shocked a Corellian freighter pilot before his gaze came to rest on the wide-eyed boy staring at him.

Xanatos winced. Obi-Wan had warned him about his language countless times, but old habits died hard, and his covert work among hardened criminals had not exactly prepared him for the tender ears of a youngster. It was yet another adjustment that would have to be made. He squared his shoulders, straightening his hair in some attempt to look dignified, like the Jedi master he supposedly was.

"Excuse my language … Padawan," he said formally.

"Why?" Anakin shrugged. "It's nothing I haven't heard before."

At least the Force was considerate enough to grant him an apprentice that wasn't freshly delivered from the sterile halls of the Temple crèche. That display alone would have sent any of those perfect little Jedi into shock.

"Yes, Anakin, but as Jedi we are all held to a higher standard, and I will try to set a better example." Too bad Obi-Wan wasn't here to hear that speech. He would have been proud … after getting over an initial outburst of laughter. "But anyhow …" Xanatos sat down on the side of the sleepcouch, reaching down to grab his still throbbing toe. "You were dreaming?"

Anakin hunched over, clearly embarrassed, and drew his arms around his knees. "It was that creature … the one that killed Qui-Gon."

"Ah, yes." Obi-Wan and Anakin seemed to be having similar dreams, but after the description Obi-Wan had given him of the Sith, Xanatos didn't blame either of them. "You need not worry Anakin. Obi-Wan killed the Sith. It can't harm you anymore." Having not had much experience caring for children, he had to wonder if he sounded as clichéd to Anakin as he did to himself.

"I know that, but I still keep having the dreams."

Xanatos let out a sigh. "I suppose the appropriate Jedi response would be, 'dreams pass', at least that's what my master used to tell me."

"What do you think?"

"He was right … they do pass … but it doesn't mean they don't scare the hell out of you while they are here." That got him the giggle he was hoping for, but more importantly, he could sense the fear and tension dissipating. "Did your mother do anything special when you had nightmares?"

"She sang to me."

Xanatos was certain the blood drained from his face, and he let out a rush of breath. "In this case, my singing might incite more nightmares, so we should avoid that."

"Okay."

Anakin shifted uncomfortably, and Xanatos realized that he had offered to do something … he needed to do something. He searched far back into his memories, past Telos, past Qui-Gon, to when he was still a boy in his father's house.

"My governess … the woman who cared for me before I came to the Temple … used to make me a type of hot chocolate when I had bad dreams. Would you like some?"

A sense of levity and accomplishment filled him at the emphatic nod and smile that crossed the boy's face. Perhaps he would survive being a master. He knew that the promised chocolate was somewhere in the cupboards. Qui-Gon had loved it and often made it during his apprenticeship.

The fear and panic jumped out and nearly consumed him. It was sometimes overwhelming how powerful the pull from Anakin's end of their bond could be. Xanatos strengthened his shields, but not enough to cut his apprentice off. He could sense Anakin clawing for his presence as the young man tried to surface from the dream.

Fortunately, Anakin was not far. He slept on a bunk directly above his master. Xanatos stood up, placing his hand on the young man's sweat-drenched brow. "Anakin … Padawan."

Anakin woke up, taking breaths in deep pants as he looked around the room. "Master," he whispered, clearly relieved.

"Is it the same dream? The one about your mother?"

"Yes," Anakin whispered, his voice choking on a sob. "I don't know why … I keep … oh Master, she's in such pain."

"You need your rest," Xanatos soothed, calming his apprentice through the Force. "She was fine last we checked, and we will contact her again once we get to Coruscant."

Anakin nodded his head and settled back down. Xanatos waited until he had drifted back to sleep again, deepening his apprentice's rest through a Force suggestion. There wasn't much more he could do. He had allowed Anakin to contact his mother daily during their last mission, and as of their departure, all was well at the Lars homestead. Still, Anakin seemed certain something was coming. The truth was, Xanatos had never seen his apprentice this afraid or desperate, at least, not since being captured by the Sith as a boy. He wasn't sure how to protect Anakin against something that might never happen. His heart ached for his apprentice. Having watched Anakin work so hard over the past year to overcome his feelings concerning Padme, it was hard to watch him fight yet another emotional battle.

It wasn't surprising to have a message waiting for them as soon as their vessel touched down. As so often happened, it seemed they would barely unpack for a mission only to be packing for another. Such was life for the padawan of one of the Order's most sought-after negotiators. And now, Obi-Wan and Ben found themselves outside the Council chambers.

"Maybe I should let you handle this, Padawan," Obi-Wan mused lightly. "To give you more experience of course."

"I think I will pass and take my dutiful place behind you, Master," Ben replied.

"Very well, then. Shall we?"

They made their way to the center of the Council chambers, bowed, then stood respectfully as they waited to be addressed.

"A mission we have for you," Yoda said.

"Where will we be going, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.

"On Coruscant you will stay for now. Grave happenings here." The elder Jedi's ears dropped, his features constricting into a frown. "An attempted assassination there was … on Senator Amidala."

"Is she okay?"

"An explosion there was on the landing ramp when her ship arrived. But used a decoy she did. Well she is, but many lives lost." Yoda's head shook gently side to side.

"Do we know who made the attempt? Has anyone claimed responsibility?"

"Many unknowns there are. Senator Amidala underestimates the danger … reluctant to accept Jedi protection she is. Chancellor Palpatine has requested someone familiar … someone she knows."

"Then we will go at once," Obi-Wan said.

"Dismissed you are." Yoda inclined his head, eyes that were mere slits widening. "Join you later Master Marojni and his apprentice will."

The simple declaration disturbed Ben greatly. He was sure Xanatos had not shared Anakin's feelings toward Padme with the Council, and he and Obi-Wan certainly had not broken that confidence. Ben worried about the struggle it might be for his friend to be in close contact with the senator.

Obi-Wan made no move to protest or question the assignment, so Ben followed his master's lead and bowed respectfully. The probing, cat-like gaze that fell on him as he stood made him wonder how much of his conflict Master Yoda had sensed. The aged master said nothing, and master and padawan exited the room in silence. Once outside the chamber doors, Ben felt free to speak about the mission.

"Who do you think is responsible, Master?"

"She is a politician, so there are many possibilities, Padawan." Obi-Wan pulled his cloak more tightly around his body as they made their way through the corridors of the Temple. "The Trade Federation certainly has no love for her after events on Naboo while she was queen."

"The Separatists? But she is the leading advocate of avoiding military action against them."

Obi-Wan paused, turning an amused smile on his apprentice. "Remember Ben, our mandate is to protect her. Until such time as we are assigned an investigation, we will simply focus on safeguarding her life."

"Of course, Master."

They continued outside the Temple walls, catching an airtaxi to the Senate district. As it lazily drifted into the lanes of traffic, Ben found himself on the end of his master's own searching stare.

"You are troubled, Ben. What's wrong?"

"I just have a really bad feeling about this, Master." Ben shrugged his shoulders. "Since when are two master and padawan teams needed to guard one person?"

"Probably, because it is the Chancellor making the request. He served as Senator Amidala's representative while she was queen, and likely wants to assure her safety." He paused, drawing fingers through the beard he had recently grown. "That, and he has always seemed to take great delight in annoying Xanatos with senseless requests."

"Insulting the Chancellor now, are we Master?" Ben asked with mock disapproval.

"Not at all, Padawan." A small smile tugged at Obi-Wan's lips. "I was simply stating a fact."

Ben frowned again, letting out a deep sigh. "This isn't going to be easy for Anakin. He has worked very hard to forget about the senator over the past year or so."

"I know. I expect Xanatos to try to decline the mission," Obi-Wan said, bowing his head. "But, the Council doesn't know any of this. If they press Xanatos and Anakin to come, it will at least be good that Anakin will have us and his master at his side to guide him."

As the airtaxi stopped at their destination, Ben had to wonder if that would be enough.

The skyline of Coruscant flashed by quickly through the windows of the elevator pod, the spires of the Jedi Temple rising above all the other buildings. The two Jedi occupants showed little interest in the outside scenery, both staring ahead at the double doors. Xanatos looked to the side to observe his apprentice. Anakin's hands were clenched tightly in front of him, knuckles white. The Jedi master wondered if Anakin even realized the extent of his own anxiety. Xanatos reached forward and pushed a button to stop the elevator. He watched as Anakin continued to stare ahead at the doors, apparently unaware they had stopped moving.

"Is there a problem, Master?" Anakin finally asked, looking up at Xanatos.

"Yes. My apprentice seems a little on edge and not all here." Xanatos raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to talk?"

Shoulders slumped forward. Anakin dropped his well-composed mask to reveal all the conflict and frustration he harbored within. "I don't want to do this, Master." Anakin shook his head from side to side.

"I know, Padawan." Xanatos folded his arms across his chest. "Perhaps if I explain the specifics to Master Yoda …"

"No!" Anakin said with an edge of panic in his voice. "I don't want to make my feelings Council business, and they would probably make me go anyhow. You know, just to face my struggles and conquer them."

The edge of Xanatos' lips curved into a smile. That would be the Council's logic, no matter how flawed.

"It's not fair, Master," Anakin continued. "I have worked so hard over the last year …"

"And as I have said many times before, Padawan … life is …"

"Not fair … I know," Anakin said, completing the sentence. A pained whimper came from the padawan's mouth. "What should I do?"

"First, relax." Placing both hands on the younger man's shoulders, Xanatos turned Anakin to face him. "Close your eyes. Take a deep breath."

"And stay as far away from her as possible," Anakin said, nodding his head.

"Now, don't be rude," Xanatos chided gently. "Your mother and I raised you better than that."

"I don't have to talk to her to be polite."

Xanatos let out a light chuckle. "Just remember, I am right here with you, and so are Obi-Wan and Ben."

Xanatos started the elevator again, watching as his apprentice's eyes suddenly lit up. "Master, maybe we can handle the investigation side of this assignment," Anakin suggested.

"What makes you think we will conduct an investigation? Our mandate is to protect."

"Why else do you think we were assigned to protect Padme, if not to find the killer?" Anakin shrugged. "Protection is a job for local security... not Jedi. Two master and padawan teams are overkill, Master." The youth nodded his head, pleased with his own logic. "Investigation is implied in our mandate."

"Have fun convincing Obi-Wan," Xanatos said as both shared a conspiratorial smile.

The elevator continued snaking up the side of the building then suddenly made an unanticipated stop. Xanatos checked the floor number, hand resting on his saber hilt until they sensed the familiar presence.

"He must have heard us talking about him," Anakin said.

The door to the elevator slipped open, and Obi-Wan smiled before stepping in to join his two fellow Jedi. "So, you're the reason for the holdup," he said, trying to hide the smirk spreading across his face. "It's about time you arrived. Senator Amidala has already retired for the evening."

"Thank the Force for small miracles," Anakin mumbled, finally relaxing.

The door to the lift came to a stop at its final destination. As the trio stepped out into the corridor, they were met by two armed guards. "These are the other two Jedi sent by the Council," Obi-Wan assured them.

They entered the apartment to find Ben waiting for them. "Master Xanatos." Ben bowed respectfully, Anakin half snorting in laughter at the way the older padawan still followed protocol, even among family. "It's good to see you again, Anakin."

"What is the situation?" Xanatos asked.

"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way," Obi-Wan explained as he took off his robe and laid it neatly over the back of the sofa. "Any activity up here, Ben?"

"Nothing." Ben shrugged. "I feel like we are just sitting here, waiting for something to happen to her."

Obi-Wan checked the view panel they had set up on a small table. It showed the image of a small droid by the door, but no sign of Senator Amidala on the bed.

"The image is obscured. What happened, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.

"She covered the cameras. I don't think she wanted us watching her."

"What is she thinking?" Obi-Wan murmured.

The senator had been less than pleased at being assigned Jedi protectors. Although Obi-Wan had promised her that their presence would be invisible, she was still proving to be difficult. It seemed she was more interested in answers than her own safety.

"She says that she programmed the droid to warn us if there is an intruder," Ben said. "It seems like an odd job for an astrometric droid."

"Artoo isn't your average astrometric droid," Anakin chimed in.

"It's too risky," Obi-Wan said softly.

"Why?" Anakin asked, drawing a disapproving stare from Obi-Wan. "I can sense everything going on in that room."

"Your senses aren't that attuned, Anakin."

"And yours are?" Xanatos teased.

"Possibly," Obi-Wan said, before shaking his head. "Just keep an eye on her."

Obi-Wan pulled Xanatos out onto the apartment's balcony. "Anakin looks absolutely exhausted," he commented. "What did you do to him on your last mission?"

"He hasn't been sleeping well at all – dreams about his mother suffering."

"That has to be difficult, but dreams pass …"

"I don't know if these will," Xanatos interrupted with a concern Obi-Wan hadn't seen since Anakin had been taken by the Sith. "At least, not from what I've sensed through our bond."

"You think they are prophetic in nature?"

"I'm just not sure. I have allowed frequent contact with her." Xanatos leaned forward, resting his arms against the railing as he looked out over Coruscant. "He didn't need this assignment on top of everything else going on in his life, but he's holding up … for now."

"Have you thought of laying everything out in the open for Master Yoda. You two are close."

"Anakin has asked me not to."

"Sometimes as the master you have to do what is in the best interest of your apprentice, even …"

"I won't betray my apprentice's trust."

The simple, firm declaration left no room for argument. Obi-Wan nodded his head in acceptance as the two men settled into silence. Xanatos suddenly looked sharply back toward the apartment.

"I sense it, too," Obi-Wan said.

They both ran inside, bursting into Padme's room just in time to see Anakin throw himself in front of the senator, severing two snakelike creatures with his saber.

"A droid," Obi-Wan said, looking out the window.

Before Xanatos could react, Obi-Wan crashed through the window and grabbed onto the hovering probe. The other three Jedi watched as the droid sunk briefly before flying away with Obi-Wan in tow. Anakin was first out of the room, while Ben and Xanatos nearly collided with a small group of guards coming to investigate the commotion. They charged out of the building to a line of parked speeders just in time to see Anakin zoom away.

"Go after them," Xanatos said.

"Are you coming?" the padawan asked.

Taking a deep breath that said he was torn with what to do, Xanatos finally said, "No, our job is to protect the Senator so someone should actually remain here with her."

Without saying another word, Ben nodded and jumped into another speeder. Xanatos watched as he took off before returning to the apartment. All eyes went to him as he entered.

"Master Kenobi?" Padme asked immediately.

"He will be fine." Xanatos offered a confident smile. "Padawans Skywalker and Itires are more than capable of retrieving him."

It could equally be said that Obi-Wan and Anakin could get themselves into more trouble than humanly possible, but at least Ben was following them.

Xanatos paced back and forth, pausing every so often to glance at the three other silent figures in the sitting room. Obi-Wan was half sitting on the arm of the sofa, face bruised, obviously favoring the left side of his rib cage. Anakin stood, head bowed, as solemn as though facing the Council. It was a façade. Xanatos could sense the chaotic undercurrents of excitement coursing through his apprentice. He was on the same sort of high he used to have when Xanatos would catch him racing in the lower levels of Coruscant. Ben was by far the most serious of the lot, poised and composed as a model padawan should be.

The Jedi master thought he knew the story, it had come in pieces from the various participants, complete with the customary interruptions and objections. He took a deep breath before finally speaking.

"I don't think I have to say how disappointed I am." He clasped his hands behind his back. "I have never heard of more reckless behavior …"

"I couldn't agree more," Obi-Wan chimed in.

"From both of you."

Xanatos completed his sentence, turning his gaze on a very surprised Obi-Wan.

"What!?"

"Diving out of a window, hundreds of stories above Coruscant?" Xanatos shook his head. "You could have gotten yourself killed."

"Your padawan is the suicidal one," Obi-Wan protested. "He drove us through power couplings right before jumping from the speeder." Raising an eyebrow, Obi-Wan added. "And let's not forget one lost lightsaber that Ben was able to retrieve."

"I wasn't the one who stopped to get a drink in the middle of a chase," Anakin interjected with a smirk.

"A drink?" Xanatos asked. This hadn't come out in the original story.

"I was using myself as bait," Obi-Wan said.

"And let's not forget the frivolous use of mind tricks …"

"What do you mean, Anakin ..?"

"You don't want to sell me death sticks." Anakin waved his hand. "You want to go home and rethink your life."

"Let's just thank the Force both of you are alive and in one piece," Xanatos said rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Agreed," Obi-Wan added.

Xanatos pulled Obi-Wan aside as the two padawans settled down for the rest of the evening. "All teasing aside, what did you find?"

"A bounty hunter murdered our suspect before we could get any useful information. This is the only lead we have," Obi-Wan said, withdrawing a small toxic dart that had been used to kill the clawdite assassin. "Ever seen anything like this in your undercover work?"

Xanatos carefully took the dart from Obi-Wan studying it intently. "Not that I remember," he answered.

"I'll run it by analysis tomorrow," Obi-Wan said as he took the dart back from Xanatos and placed it safely away in a pouch on his belt. "And if nothing turns up, I would bet Dex has seen it."

"I thought our mandate was only to protect," Xanatos questioned, trying to hide his amusement at how quickly the younger Jedi had stepped outside the boundaries of the assignment.

"After tonight's events, I think the Council will agree that it has expanded to an investigation."